Why Bryan Danielson Much Happier Now Than After WWE Retirement
Bryan Danielson has retired twice in his wrestling career.
His first retirement came in February 2016, due to a history of concussions and medical concerns. After nearly two years of extensive medical testing, WWE cleared him in March 2018. Danielson made his in-ring comeback at WrestleMania 34, teaming with Shane McMahon against Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn.
Then, in 2024, Bryan Danielson announced his decision to retire from full-time wrestling at AEW WrestleDream in October, after losing the AEW World Championship to Jon Moxley. He explained that family and health were his top priorities: his body was worn down, and he wanted more time with his children while they still wanted him around.
Bryan Danielson Is Content With His AEW Retirement
Since stepping away from active wrestling, The American Dragon has taken up a backstage consultant role with AEW. He also started working as a color commentator on Dynamite this month.
That said, Bryan Danielson recently had an interview with Australia’s Nine Network, where he discussed both his retirement. He stated that he feels more content with his AEW retirement than the one he had in WWE because he stepped away from the ring on his own terms.
I feel infinitely more content, honestly. My life has changed, and it’s different when it’s your own decision as opposed to when you’re not allowed to do this thing that you love anymore… I would mostly frame it that even though I’m in physical discomfort, I’m pretty happy.
Danielson also hinted at a comeback to the ring in the future, but made it clear that he won’t wrestle in the same capacity as he did anymore.
My body physically can’t do some of those things anymore. If I’m going to do it, it can’t be at the scale that I did it before. If I tried to do some of the things I did in my last year with AEW right now, I don’t think I’d be able to go back and hold my kids. Anything that I would do moving forward has to be with that in mind, because that is now my number one priority. Stay healthy, be at home, and play with my kids and coach my son’s tee-ball team.